IELTS TASK 2 Writing band descriptors (public version)

Band
9

Task Achievement
fully addresses all parts of the task presents a fully developed position in answer to the question with relevant, fully extended and well supported ideas sufficiently addresses all parts of the task presents a well-developed response to the question with relevant, extended and supported ideas

Coherence and Cohesion

uses cohesion in such a way that it attracts no attention skilfully manages paragraphing

Lexical Resource
uses a wide range of vocabulary with very natural and sophisticated control of lexical features; rare minor errors occur only as slips

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

uses a wide range of structures with full flexibility and accuracy; rare minor errors occur only as slips

sequences information and ideas logically manages all aspects of cohesion well uses paragraphing sufficiently and appropriately

addresses all parts of the task presents a clear position throughout the response presents, extends and supports main ideas, but there may be a tendency to overgeneralise and/or supporting ideas may lack focus addresses all parts of the task although some parts may be more fully covered than others presents a relevant position although the conclusions may become unclear or repetitive presents relevant main ideas but some may be inadequately developed/unclear

logically organises information and ideas; there is clear progression throughout uses a range of cohesive devices appropriately although there may be some under-/over-use presents a clear central topic within each paragraph arranges information and ideas coherently and there is a clear overall progression uses cohesive devices effectively, but cohesion within and/or between sentences may be faulty or mechanical may not always use referencing clearly or appropriately uses paragraphing, but not always logically

uses a wide range of vocabulary fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings skilfully uses uncommon lexical items but there may be occasional inaccuracies in word choice and collocation produces rare errors in spelling and/or word formation uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision uses less common lexical items with some awareness of style and collocation may produce occasional errors in word choice, spelling and/or word formation uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task attempts to use less common vocabulary but with some inaccuracy makes some errors in spelling and/or word formation, but they do not impede communication

uses a wide range of structures the majority of sentences are error-free makes only very occasional errors or inappropriacies

uses a variety of complex structures produces frequent error-free sentences has good control of grammar and punctuation but may make a few errors

uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms makes some errors in grammar and punctuation but they rarely reduce communication

Page 1 of 2

1 0

addresses the task only presents information with some partially; the format may be organisation but there may be a lack of inappropriate in places overall progression expresses a position but the makes inadequate, inaccurate or over development is not always use of cohesive devices clear and there may be no may be repetitive because of lack of referencing and substitution conclusions drawn may not write in paragraphs, or presents some main ideas but these are limited and not paragraphing may be inadequate sufficiently developed; there may be irrelevant detail presents information and ideas but responds to the task only in a these are not arranged coherently and minimal way or the answer is tangential; the format may be there is no clear progression in the response inappropriate uses some basic cohesive devices but presents a position but this is these may be inaccurate or repetitive unclear may not write in paragraphs or their presents some main ideas but these are difficult to identify use may be confusing and may be repetitive, irrelevant or not well supported does not adequately address does not organise ideas logically any part of the task may use a very limited range of does not express a clear cohesive devices, and those used may position not indicate a logical relationship presents few ideas, which are between ideas largely undeveloped or irrelevant barely responds to the task has very little control of organisational does not express a position features may attempt to present one or two ideas but there is no development answer is completely fails to communicate any message unrelated to the task does not attend does not attempt the task in any way writes a totally memorised response

uses a limited range of vocabulary, but this is minimally adequate for the task may make noticeable errors in spelling and/or word formation that may cause some difficulty for the reader

uses only a limited range of structures attempts complex sentences but these tend to be less accurate than simple sentences may make frequent grammatical errors and punctuation may be faulty; errors can cause some difficulty for the reader

uses only basic vocabulary which may be used repetitively or which may be inappropriate for the task has limited control of word formation and/or spelling; errors may cause strain for the reader

uses only a very limited range of structures with only rare use of subordinate clauses some structures are accurate but errors predominate, and punctuation is often faulty

uses only a very limited range of words and expressions with very limited control of word formation and/or spelling errors may severely distort the message uses an extremely limited range of vocabulary; essentially no control of word formation and/or spelling can only use a few isolated words

attempts sentence forms but errors in grammar and punctuation predominate and distort the meaning

cannot use sentence forms except in memorised phrases

cannot use sentence forms at all

Page 2 of 2